Collapsible multi-position easel



Aug. 18, 1964 H. NEUWIRTH 3,145,014

COLLAPSIBLE MULTI-POSITION EASEL Filed Aug. 26, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR HERMAN NEUWIRT ATTORNEYS.

1964 H. NEUWlRTH 3,145,014

COLLAPSIBLE MULTI-POSITION EASEL Filed Aug. 26, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR HERMAN NEUWIR'ITH BY ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent 3,145,014 (I ULLAPSHHBLE MULTl-PflSviTllUN EASEL Herman Neuwirth, Fort Lee, N..l., assignor to Testrite instrument Con, lino, Newark, NJ, a corporation of New York Filed Aug. 26, 1963, Sci. L o. 304,450 8 Claims. (Cl. 248-464) This invention relates to easels such as used for supporting drawings, paintings, display cards or the like. More particularly, the invention is directed to an improved easel which is readily and compactly collapsible, and erectable, with a minimum amount of effort, and which has novel adjustable supporting leg means whereby the easel may be used in a wide variety of operative positions.

Easels most commonly comprise a frame or the like for supporting the work, such as a cardboard, canvas or the like, to which frame there is pivotally or hingedly interconnected a supporting leg so that the easel frame may be supported in an upwardly and rearwardly inclined position with the bottom of the easel frame and the lower end of the supporting leg engaging a support surface.

Generally, easels are collapsible only to the extent of folding the support leg in against the frame, and thus a collapsed easel forms a rather bulky package even in its completely collapsed condition. This is a disadvantage when it is desired to transport the easel from one location to another. Furthermore, the positions in which an easel may be placed for supporting work thereon are generally limited to a substantially upright position of the frame, inclined somewhat upwardly and rearwardly. This, in turn, limits use of the easel.

In many instances, it is desirable to have an easel lie flat upon a support surface, such as a table, or to lie nearly flat but be tilted upwardly and rearwardly from the table top at a relatively small angle. Known easels do not provide for placing the easel in this latter position.

In accordance with the present invention, a novel easel is provided in which not only may the rear support leg be folded flat against the front frame, but the front frame may have a pair of side legs collapsible laterally into substantial engagement with each other, thus providing a very compact package to carry when transporting the easel from one leg to another. A feature of the invention is the provision of a two-part support leg, including a relatively short section hingedly connected to the top of the frame and a relatively longer leg which is pivotally connected to the shorter leg intermediate the ends thereof but nearer the free end thereof. By this arrangement, greater stability of support of the easel frame is obtained, in addition to which the relatively short leg can be used as a prop when it is desired to support the easel in a position in which it extends at only a small acute angle upwardly with respect to a table or other support surface.

More particularly, the easel comprises a frame including a central leg, a pair of side legs, and a pair of bottom frame members, with means pivotally connecting the upper ends of the side legs to the upper ends of the central leg. The central leg has a guiding formation, such as a slot, extending longitudinally thereof, and means are provided to pivotally connect the outer end of each bottom frame member to a respective side leg adjacent the bottom end of the latter. Other pivot means, such as a hinge slide, hingedly interconnect the inner ends of the bottom frame members and the hinge slide means is slidable along the slot constituting the guiding formation. Thereby, the side legs may be readily and easily folded in against the center leg, and as easily 3,145,014 Patented Aug. 18, 1954 extended merely by pushing downwardly upon the hinge connection of the bottom frame members. The slot is of such a nature that it limits such downward movement of the bottom frame members to a position in which the two bottom frame members are rectilinearly aligned. Preferably, the bottom frame members are in the form of a channel or an angle, to form a retaining support for a placard, card, or the like positioned on the frame.

For an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference is made to the following description of a typical embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the easel in the erected position;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational View of the easel in the collapsed condition;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the easel in the collapsed condition;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the ease] in the erected position, but supported on a support surface in such a manner that it extends at only a small angle upwardly and rearwardly relative to the support surface;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the easel in the erected condition, showing another supported position of the easel;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along lines 66 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 77 of FIG. 6.

Referring to the drawings, the easel includes a frame 10 which, in the operative or working position, is substantially triangular in form, and support legs 30 and 35.

Frame 10 includes a central leg and side legs 11. Side legs 11 are provided with buttons or feet 12 at their lower ends, and are tubular in form, being formed of any suitable light-weight metal such as, for example, aluminum. The upper ends of side legs 11 are flattened, as at 13, and are pivotally secured to a top plate 20. Plate has reentrant side flanges 21 within which the flattened portions 13 of legs 11 are nested, and legs 11 are pivotally secured to top plate 20 by means of rivets 14-.

Central leg 15 comprises a pair of rectilinear bars, or the like, 15A and 15B spaced apart to provide a guiding means, such as slot 16. The lower ends of bars 15A and 15B are interconnected, in laterally spaced relation, by a cross piece 17 which may be riveted to the bars 15A and 15B. The upper ends of bars 15A. and 15B are fixedly secured to plate 20 by means of rivets or the like 18.

Frame 10 further includes bottom members 24 which, in the illustrated embodiment, are channels having their inner flanges, at the outer ends thereof, pivotally connected to legs 11, adjacent the lower ends of the latter, by rivets or the like 26. The inner ends of bottom members 24 are pivotally interconnected by a hinge 25 arranged to have guided sliding engagement in slot 16. Thereby, the easel may be readily collapsed, from the position shown in FIG. 1 to the position shown in FIG. 2, by moving the center portions of members 24 upwardly along slot 16 so that legs 11 may be folded inwardly against center leg 15. To expand the frame It), it is merely necessary to pull legs 11 outwardly whereupon members 24 will drop to the position illustrated in FIG. 1 wherein the hinge 25 engages the cross piece 17 to limit downward movement of members 24 to a position in which these legs are rectilinear or coplanar.

Top plate 20 is formed with an aperture 23 by means of which the easel may, if desired, be hung on a hook or the like when not in use. It is further provided with a carrier handle 28 which is pivotally connected to the side flanges 21. Thus, transport and storage of the easel is made relatively easy and simple.

Plate has a pair of cars 22 cut and bent rearwardly therefrom, and ears 22 form a hinge support for the relatively shorter support leg 30. Short support leg is provided with a padded foot or the like 31 at its outer end, and is in the form of a flat bar whose inner end is pivotally connected to the ears 22 as by a bolt and nut arrangement 32, or a rivet, or the like. The inner end of leg 30 is a flat surface curved at one end so that, when leg 30 is swung to a position substantially normal to plate 20, it is held against further movement in the same direction. Intermediate its ends, and nearer its outer end, short support leg 30 is apertured to receive a wing nut assembly 34 which is engaged in a flattened upper end 37 of the longer support leg 35. This longer support leg 35 is tubular in cross section, except for its flattened upper end, and is provided with a cushioning button or pad 36 at its lower end.

The slot 16 and the bars 15A and 15B guidingly support a slide 40 which has tabs 42 engaged in slot 16. Slide 40 may be adjustably positioned along center legs 15 by virtue of a wing nut assembly 41 extending through the slide and through the slot 16. Tabs 42 maintain slide 40 against angular motion relative to leg 15 and particularly slot 16. Slide 40 serves as a support for a work clamp 45 which forms the subject matter of my Patent No. 3,076,- 645, issued February 5, 1963, to which reference is made for the detailed construction of clamp 45.

The easel may be operated in the following manner. From the collapsed position of FIGS. 2 and 3, legs 11 of frame 10 may be pulled outwardly, thus allowing bottom members 24 to drop into aligned relation as shown in FIG. 1. By loosening wing nut 34, and effecting relative adjustment of support legs 30 and 35, the easel may be made to assume any desired position which is nearly normal to the support surface.

One such position is shown in FIG. 5 in solid lines and another position in dotted lines. In this case, short support arm 30 is made to extend horizontally or nearly horizontally from plate 20, and leg 35 is adjusted to the proper position to obtain the desired lean back angle of the easel, after which wing nut assembly 34 is tightened. Under certain circumstances, it may even be desirable to align legs 30 and 35, although a more effective support is obtained when leg 35 extends at a relatively large angle with respect to leg 30, such as shown in the two positions of FIG. 5. It Will be noted that the articulated support leg construction, involving the pivotally interconnected legs 30 and 35, aifords a very wide range of selection of the support angle and the manner in which the easel is supported, thus adapting the easel to support upon surfaces of varying areas or having varying clearances.

A particular feature of the invention, however, resides in the relatively short support leg 30 having pad or foot 31 on its outer end. By folding leg 35 inwardly toward the easel, while leaving leg 30 projecting from the easel, the easel may be moved to the position shown in FIG. 4 in which it is at a relatively small angle with respect to the horizontal while being supported only upon the short leg 30. This nearly flat position of the easel is desirable in many operations, and may be readily effected with the easel of the invention solely by using the support leg 30 in supporting engagement with the surface with support leg 35 not being in such supporting engagement. As a further feature, both legs 30 and 35 may be folded completely flat against the frame 10 so that the easel will lie in a flat position, which is also useful in many circumstances.

The work sheet, such as a sheet of canvas, cardboard, or the like is supported on the frame 10. If desired, the work sheet may be suspended by clamping its upper edge in the work clamp 45. Alternatively, the work sheet can be positioned on the aligned legs 24 and simply laid against the easel. A further manner in which the work sheet may be supported is to place its lower edge in the aligned legs 24 and clamp its upper edge in the work A clamp 45, which may be readily adjusted longitudinally of leg 15 by loosening wing nut assembly 41.

After use, the easel may be readily collapsed to the position of FIG. 2 by loosening wing nut 34 so that legs 30 and 35 may be folded in flat against frame 10, and by then lifting the inner ends of members 24, while providing inward pressure on legs 11, so that the members 24 will move to the position of FIG. 2. The easel then may be easily transported by using handle 28, or may be hung in and out-of-the-way place by use of the aperture 23 in assocition with a hook, a nail or the like.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

1. An easel comprising, in combination, a frame including a central leg, a pair of side legs and a pair of bottom frame members; means pivotally connecting the upper ends of said side legs to the upper ends of said central leg; said central leg having a guiding formation extending longitudinally thereof; means pivotally connecting the outer end of each bottom frame member to a respective side leg adjacent the bottom end of the latter; pivot means hingedly interconnecting the inner ends of said bottom frame members and slidable along said guiding formation; and support leg means pivotally interconnected to the upper end of said central leg for swinging movement perpendicular to the general plane of said frame, to form a tripod structure including said side legs and said support legs; whereby said easel, when in the collapsed condition, may be erected by swinging said side legs outwardly relative to said central leg to cause said pivot means to move downwardly along said guiding formation; said guiding formation including means limiting downward movement of said bottom frame members to a position in which they are rectilinearly aligned and substantially horizontal; said easel being collapsible by moving said pivot means upwardly along said guiding formation with inward pressure on said side legs to swing said side legs toward said central leg.

2. An easel, as claimed in claim 1, in which said support leg means comprises a relatively short leg having its inner end pivotally connected to the upper end of said central leg, and a relatively longer leg having its upper end pivotally connected to said relatively short leg inward of but adjacent the outer end of the latter; and clamp means for maintaining said relatively short and relatively long legs in angularly adjusted relation; whereby said easel may be supported solely by said short leg or by said short leg and said relatively longer leg acting in conjunction with each other.

3. An easel, as claimed in claim 1, in which said guiding formation comprises a slot extending longitudinally of said central leg; said pivot means being slidable in said slot.

4. An easel, as claimed in claim 3, in which said central leg comprises a substantially flat plate adjacent its upper end and a pair of relatively elongated bars fixedly connected to said plate in laterally spaced relation to form said slot, and means fixedly interconnecting the lower ends of said bars in laterally spaced relation and acting as a stop means for said pivot means in movement of said bottom frame members toward the rectilinearly aligned and substantially horizontal position.

5. An easel, as claimed in claim 3, including a slide mounted for movement along said slot; means operable to clamp said slide in any adjusted position longitudinally of said slot; and a work clamp mounted on said slide.

6. An easel, as claimed in claim 5, in which said bottom frame members comprise channels each having one flange pivotally connected to a side leg; said pivot means comprising a hinge interconnecting the inner ends of the bases of said channels.

7. An easel, as claimed in claim 4, including a carrier handle secured to said plate; said plate being formed with an aperture for suspending said easel from a hook or the like.

8. An easel, as claimed in claim 2, in which the length of said relatively short leg is a minor fraction of the length of said relatively longer support leg.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS French Dec. 31, 1907 Grumbacher Ian. 31, 1961 Turkin Dec. 17, 1963 

1. AN EASEL COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A FRAME INCLUDING A CENTRAL LEG, A PAIR OF SIDE LEGS AND A PAIR OF BOTTOM FRAME MEMBERS; MEANS PIVOTALLY CONNECTING THE UPPER ENDS OF SAID SIDE LEGS TO THE UPPER ENDS OF SAID CENTRAL LEG; SAID CENTRAL LEG HAVING A GUIDING FORMATION EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY THEREOF; MEANS PIVOTALLY CONNECTING THE OUTER END OF EACH BOTTOM FRAME MEMBER TO A RESPECTIVE SIDE LEG ADJACENT THE BOTTOM END OF THE LATTER; PIVOT MEANS HINGEDLY INTERCONNECTING THE INNER ENDS OF SAID BOTTOM FRAME MEMBERS AND SLIDABLE ALONG SAID GUIDING FORMATION; AND SUPPORT LEG MEANS PIVOTALLY INTERCONNECTED TO THE UPPER END OF SAID CENTRAL LEG FOR SWINGING MOVEMENT PERPENDICULAR TO THE GENERAL PLANE OF SAID FRAME, TO FORM A TRIPOD STRUCTURE INCLUDING SAID SIDE LEGS AND SAID SUPPORT LEGS; WHEREBY SAID EASEL, WHEN IN THE COLLAPSED CONDITION, MAY BE ERECTED BY SWINGING SAID SIDE LEGS OUTWARDLY RELATIVE TO SAID CENTRAL LEG TO CAUSE SAID PIVOT MEANS TO MOVE DOWNWARDLY ALONG SAID GUIDING FORMATION; SAID GUIDING FORMATION INCLUDING MEANS LIMITING DOWNWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID BOTTOM FRAME MEMBERS TO A POSITION IN WHICH THEY ARE RECTILINEARLY ALIGNED AND SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL; SAID EASEL BEING COLLAPSIBLE BY MOVING SAID PIVOT MEANS UPWARDLY ALONG SAID GUIDING FORMATION WITH INWARD PRESSURE ON SAID SIDE LEGS TO SWING SAID SIDE LEGS TOWARD SAID CENTRAL LEG. 